2016 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions for Every Team Ahead of Super Bowl

North Dakota State Bison quarterback Carson Wentz is the hottest name in NFL draft circles. The 6'5" 232-pounder didn't attend a Division I school, but most talent evaluators believe he has the goods to be a franchise quarterback.

With a body type that is as prototypical as they come and a background in reading the entire field and working through progressions, Wentz will immediately check a couple of boxes that many college quarterbacks won’t be able to check. While his arm strength is OK, he can still make all the throws and he can make them with accuracy.

His ability to escape pressure and pick up first downs with his feet will be yet another check mark in his favor. Wentz is still in a developmental phase after just two years at an FBS program, but has the mental and physical building blocks of a future, franchise quarterback.

Based on that talent evaluation, and similar ones from other draft prognosticators, it would be a shock if Wentz doesn't hear his name called within the first eight picks. Here's the latest first-round mock draft with a predicted landing spot for Wentz and the other top prospects available.

NFL Draft 2016 Mock Draft

Pick

Team

Player

Position

School

1

Tennessee Titans

Laremy Tunsil

OT

Ole Miss

2

Cleveland Browns

Carson Wentz

QB

North Dakota St.

3

San Diego Chargers

Ronnie Stanley

OT

Notre Dame

4

Dallas Cowboys

Joey Bosa

DL

Ohio State

5

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jalen Ramsey

CB/S

Florida State

6

Baltimore Ravens

Mackensie Alexander

CB

Clemson

7

San Francisco 49ers

Jared Goff

QB

Cal

8

Miami Dolphins

Myles Jack

LB

UCLA

9

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

DeForest Buckner

DE

Oregon

10

New York Giants

Reggie Ragland

LB

Alabama

11

Chicago Bears

Leonard Floyd

OLB

Georgia

12

New Orleans Saints

A'Shawn Robinson

DT

Alabama

13

Philadelphia Eagles

Taylor Decker

OT

Ohio State

14

Oakland Raiders

Vernon Hargreaves III

CB

Florida

15

Los Angeles Rams

Paxton Lynch

QB

Memphis

16

Detroit Lions

Jack Conklin

OT

Michigan State

17

Atlanta Falcons

Shilique Calhoun

DE

Michigan State

18

Indianapolis Colts

Ezekiel Elliott

RB

Ohio State

19

Buffalo Bills

Jaylon Smith

LB

Notre Dame

20

New York Jets

Shaq Lawson

DE

Clemson

21

Washington

Laquon Treadwell

WR

Ole Miss

22

Houston Texans

Robert Nkemdiche

DL

Ole Miss

23

Minnesota Vikings

Michael Thomas

WR

Ohio State

24

Cincinnati Bengals

Emmanuel Ogbah

DE

Oklahoma State

25

Pittsburgh Steelers

Kendall Fuller

CB

Virginia Tech

26

Seattle Seahawks

Noah Spence

DE/LB

Eastern Kentucky

27

Green Bay Packers

Sheldon Rankins

DT

Louisville

28

Kansas City Chiefs

Corey Coleman

WR

Baylor

29

Arizona Cardinals

Shilique Calhoun

DE

Michigan State

30

Denver Broncos

Jason Spriggs

OT

Indiana

31

Carolina Panthers

Eli Apple

CB

Ohio State

Predictions by Mazique.

Jared Goff vs. Carson Wentz

Many draft experts are having a hard time determining whether the California Golden Bears quarterback prospect Jared Goff or Wentz is the top prospect at the position. It could be a case of six in one hand and half-a-dozen in the other.

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Because the two teams with the biggest need for a QB within the top 10 picks have very different climates in their home states, the ability to produce in the cold could be the determining factor. Wentz played his college career in the blustery winds of North Dakota in high school. There's no doubt he's accustomed to operating in cold temperatures.

Goff is a California kid who may be able to make the switch, a la Aaron Rodgers—who also came from Cal and has had a Hall of Fame-worthy career with the Green Bay Packers.

If you're the Cleveland Browns, the safer bet would be Wentz. As Zierlein indicated, Wentz passes all of the eye tests and he has the characteristics of a natural leader. Thus, the predicted spot for him is Cleveland.

Goff is a little slighter than Wentz, and everything about him says West Coast QB. At 6'4" 215 pounds, he's a little thin, but there's no reason to believe he can't bulk up for the NFL grind. His Cali roots would make him a popular selection for the San Francisco 49ers at No. 7.

His ability to run a fast-paced offense might make him an ideal candidate to run new head coach Chip Kelly's system.

Leonard Floyd

The Chicago Bears have several needs, the biggest are at cornerback and safety. There won't be a player worthy of the No. 11 pick available. Because of that, Chicago should look at filling another need on the defensive side of the ball.

A pass-rusher to accompany Pernell McPhee would be a welcomed addition. After Ohio State's Joey Bosa is off the board within the top three picks, the next best option is 3-4 outside linebacker Leonard Floyd from the Georgia Bulldogs.

At 6'4" 231 pounds, Floyd is thinner than most defensive coordinators would prefer, but he has freakish athleticism. He's so quick and rangy, that he looks like a player who could develop into a double-digit sack producer if he's coached properly and gains a little muscle.

Ezekiel Elliott

The top running back prospect in the draft looks to be the Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott. There's a few teams that could use a workhorse back like Elliott, but which will be willing to make him a first-round pick?

Expect that to be the Indianapolis Colts at No. 18.

Andrew Luck needs a ton of help on offense, and a dependable back would be a big asset. Elliott has the size and power to be an instant force in the NFL. At 6'0" 225 pounds, he's already built like an NFL back. He possesses excellent vision and enough breakaway speed to hit the occasional home run if he's given the room.